Boats

Boats symbolize movement, as well as the stories of the people who were carried by them. In "The Collector," the man collects boats because he is drawn to the possibilities that they represent, and their mysterious histories. The Cubans were unable to travel far in their canoes, but were confronted with the European caravels, which sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to reach Cuba. In "The Tower of the Antilles" the woman imagines boats as a mean to escape her situation.

The Ocean

The ocean is a symbol of home and heritage to many of the characters in the novel, especially those who lived in Cuba or on other islands. In "North/South," Mari feels that the ocean is her "heritage," as is her ability to survive its waves and currents (83).

The United States of America

The United States represents freedom and a chance at a new...